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Primate of Russian Church celebrates Paschal Great Vespers at Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow

24. April 2014 - 14:48

On 20 April 2014, on the feast day of the Resurrection of Christ, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated Paschal Great Vespers at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Concelebrating with His Holiness were hierarchs and clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches.

Praying at the service were representatives of the Synodal institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church, hegumennesses of stavropegic convents, deans of church districts and rectors of the Moscow churches, clerics of Moscow and the Moscow region, members of the Moscow parish councils, representatives of the Moscow Orthodox youth organizations, pilgrims and parishioners.

During the service, an old Gospel, dating back to the time of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, was brought out from the sanctuary. The Gospel, which is used for solemn festive services, was bequeathed by the late Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and was transferred there from the Monastery of St Joseph of Volokolamsk.

After Paschal Vespers, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna greeted His Holiness Patriarch Kirill with the radiant feast of Pascha on behalf of the whole Russian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches, saying in particular:

“Your Holiness, during Lent we kept reflecting on the salutary mission of Christ. We remember that the last words which the Lord uttered on earth, on the Cross, were “It is finished” (John 19:30). The salvation of humanity is completed. The Risen Lord has entrusted the Church and, first of all, the holy apostles, with preaching this salvation, saying the words that give great strength to the Church of Christ, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Mt 28:20)…

“Please, allow me to cordially wish you the Paschal joy to fill abundantly your heart and help you in your lofty primatial ministry to our Church, to the holy Orthodoxy and to our great Russia.”

Mr. Andrei Golovin, executive director of the Centre for Youth Programs and Projects, greeted Patriarch Kirill on behalf of the Orthodox youth.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the worshippers with a primatial homily.